South Korean companies based in the kingdom are recruiting Thais with prior working experience in the East Asian country to capitalise on their familiarity with the culture and working conditions in the republic.
The companies have been offering job openings to Thais who previously worked in South Korea, according to the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRD Korea), a recruitment firm.
The HRD acts as a middleman between South Korean companies and investors, according to its representative Chen Hak-ki. He said it is focusing on job applicants with prior working experience in South Korea to bank on their understanding of the Korean culture and language proficiency.
Recruits who understand the Korean culture and language can adjust quickly to the Korean corporate culture, which bodes well for the company's overall productivity, Mr Chen said.
Many Thais, particularly since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, have returned from the East Asian country after having worked there for an extended period.
About 20 Korean-based companies in Rayong, Chon Buri, Samut Prakan and Bangkok have put up job openings so far. The firms specialise in the manufacturing of electronic goods, automobiles and water purifiers.
More than 100 positions are currently on offer, from production specialist, salespersons, technicians, quality auditor, to interpreters.
Mr Chen said about 10,000 Thais workers returned from South Korea last year and this year after their contracts with their employers there expired.
The HRD has sent the Thai workers offer letters and advertised positions on online job boards. In the future, the HRD will suggest Korean businesses launch job fairs in the Northeast, where they are most likely to find prospective employees. Job-seekers also will not have to travel far to apply.
Chun Sang-min, managing director of New Tech Chain Co Ltd, said his firm participates int he annual, HRD-arranged job offering programme focused on the recruitment of Thais with prior working experience in South Korea.
Those with the experience are likely to better communicate with fellow employees and their supervisors, Mr Chun said. They would not have to start from square one, he said.
The managing director said his firm has invested in Thailand for 12 years to produce sliver and brass chains for domestic and overseas markets.
He said he's confident Thailand still has plenty of room to grow economically, adding that before the pandemic, he employed more than 50 people in his production line. He now employs about 30 Thai workers, including three who had working experience in South Korea.
Many Thai workers benefit from working in South Korea.
Narathip Thunnok, 38, a native of Buri Ram and acting general manager at New Tech Chain, said he's been with the company for six years.
He said he's a Grade 12 graduate who came from a poor background. Mr Narathip went to South Korea as a tourist in 2001 and landed a job at a company manufacturing bridge railings and crash cushions.
After two years of working there illegally, his supervisor registered him as a legal worker with a contract. Mr Narathip returned to Thailand after the work contract expired and continued to study Korean.
He said he passed a language test and that allowed him to re-enter South Korea through its Employment Permit System (EPS). He was employed there for another three years before returning to Thailand, where he managed to obtain his bachelor's degree.
Lek, 34, from Surin, said he went to South Korea in 2009 to work via a job broker. He paid 250,000 baht in fees and was recruited as a construction worker, he said. He said he was willing to consider a job with a Korean company in the kingdom despite it paying lower here.
The cost of living here is lower, which means he can still save money, he said.